amba matters spring 2013

Matters

ALSOINSIDE

introducing the amba affinity program that rocked! 2013 curling bonspiel wrap up spring 2013

THE MOREYOUR DEAL LOOKS LIKEA LONG SHOT,THE MOREWE LOOK LIKEA SURE THING.

SPELL CHECK

B E N S I M O N PA R T N E R S 4 4 6 S PA D I N A R O A D , S U I T E 2 0 7, T O R O N T O , O N TA R I O , M 5 P 3 M 2 , C A N A DA T E L . 4 1 6 5 9 7 9 7 0 0 FA X . 4 1 6 5 9 7 9 7 0 7

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TRIM: BLEED:FEBRUARY 26, 2013_12:15 PM

ROM AMBA 13 01

SURE THING

AMBA / MARCH 2013

8.5 x 11

CMYK

ROMPSEN

BENSIMON/PARKER

NA NA

Romspen Investment Corporation is a non-bankmortgage lender specializing in commercial realestate across Canada and the United States.With over $1 billion under administration, we offercustomized mortgage solutions for term, bridgeand construction nancing from $4M to $100M.

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SPRING 2013 3

Membership Director (South)Adil Mawji Invis

Membership Director (North)Nadeem Jiwa MCAP Service Corporation

Consumers Awarness Director Cathy Sehn Verico Brokers for Life Inc.

Ethics DirectorKevin Weeks Weeks Law

Professional Development DirectorJames Kulus Canadiana Financial Corp.

amba 2012 - 2013 BOArD Of DIrEctOrS

Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to:

Alberta Mortgage Brokers Associationsuite 200, 1940 9 ave. se calgary, ab t2g 0V2

Publication Manager and Editor - Stephanie Weidmann

is a quarterly magazine which provides fundamental

information to members of the provincial association, offering an opportunity for the industry

members to be educated, updated and entertained.

toll free: 1.888.452.2652Phone: 403.685.9652

fax: 403.685.9682 Email: info@amba.caWeb: www.amba.ca

suite 200, 1940 9 ave. se calgary, ab t2g 0V2

Matters

A SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR ADVERTISERS...

romspen .......................... 2

equitable trust ............... 4

calvert home mortgage ........................ 7

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first national ................ 16

bridgewater bank ......... 20

rmg ............................... 38

fisgard ........................... 31

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capital direct ............... 36

merix .............................. 37

Vwr capital corp ........ 39

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MEMBErShIP rENEWALS 9 It'S NOt tOO LAtE! cONSuMEr rEPOrt ShEDS 10 LIght ON PErcEPtIONS cLOuD cOMPutINg 12 AND PrIvAcy ASk thE ExPErt: 14 frAuD PrOtEctION tIPS MEMBEr BENEfIt: 17 LEgAL DEfENSE WhAt'S NEW fOr 2013: 18 thE AffINIty PrOgrAM rEcA uPDAtE: 19 MESSAgE frOM cOuNcIL DOWNLOAD yOur 20 AMBA MEMBEr cErtIfIcAtE cOvEr StOry: 21 yOu DESErvE crEDIt AMBA curLINg BONSPIEL, 24 thAt rOckED! ExPLOrE thE PrIvAtE 27 MOrtgAgE LENDErS fOruM ALt A SyMPOSIuM 29 A grADE 'A' SuccESS SOcIAL cENtrE: WhAt tO DO 30 WhEN thE WOrSt hAPPENS AMBA EvENt 32 BrEAkDOWN Why DO yOu 33 NEED thAt? AMBA EDucAtION 37 jOINt crEDIt - gOOD Or BAD?OTHER FEATURES...presidents message 5managers report 6industry news 26member profile of david mueller 34amba community member briefs 38amba calendar 39

PresidentRon McClenaghan Invis

Past PresidentPaul Bojakli Quantus Financial

TreasurerGord Appel TMG

Events DirectorErica Fikkert Equitable Trust

Lionel Lewko Saskatchewan Director

Communications DirectorLen Lane Verico Brokers for Life Inc.

RECA Relations Director Phil McDowell Mortgages Are Marvellous

Education DirectorRyan Spence D+H

spring 2013 cONtENtS

Photo credit for some photos used within this issue of AMBA Matters shutterstock.com

Matters

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AMBAMattersAd_FullPg_SPRING2013.indd 1 13-02-04 10:39 AM

SPRING 2013 5

whenever i attend mortgage industry functions, people ask how things are going and express concern that the industry associations are not working together. what are we, as amba, doing to address this ongoing concern about duplication of activities? i would like to make sure our members understand the position we have taken and what the amba board has been striving to achieve to address these concerns.

we would like to take this opportunity to clarify our vision to our members and to let you all know that all board directors welcomes hearing your views and takes them seriously. the amba board has for the last two years, and intensively in the last 12 months, worked diligently to dialogue with all parties about a collaborative solution. these have not been easy conversations as change does not always come easy. working with the other provincial associations to share information as well as member services has begun and that collaboration is going well. we have a lot to share and learn from other provinces and collaboration is especially important in view of the newly formed mortgage broker regulators council of canada (mbrcc).

amba is, and has been, solidly behind the concept of a unified group of associations working collaboratively for the common good of the industry. the amba board believes there is an important role to be played by a national association working on national issues such as federal government relations, formulating market data research and providing important mortgage industry related news. however, we also believe in the need for strong provincial associations. provincial associations are the local voice and touch point for members. at a local level we understand the regional character of the industry, work with the local regulator on an ongoing basis and are able to respond quickly to member needs, including delivery of education as well as professional development.

the associations cannot continue in competition with each other, duplicating efforts and diluting resources. efforts between national and regional bodies can and should be coordinated. it is time for renewal and leadership at all levels with the goal of implementing a new structure and path forward that will provide a foundation for all of us. getting this done will require a new governance model with a formal relationship between the national and provincial associations. this means having the provincial associations board send representatives to be part of the national board rather than holding separate elections. this would create true integration. with formal links between local and national bodies there would be representation without the duplication and a concrete mechanism to coordinate activities. this step would benefit everyone involved and move us towards the larger goal of better serving the industry.

a division of responsibilities, and recognition that we all have value and something to bring to the table, needs to take place. nothing can be built without mutual respect and a real commitment to unification. ambas position is that there needs to be one organization of associations where the provincial body represents a common membership and holds elections. this electoral process creates real governance and a truly representative voice from the grass roots to the national body.

there is so much that could be accomplished from unification that would create value. the amba board believes in unification for the industry and we know that the best way to do that is to fight for long term significant change, and that is what we have committed to do on behalf of our membership. you dont get to your destination without a roadmap. amba has firmly stood behind the idea of collaborative change; our vision is to have all associations within one organization working on behalf of all members. in alberta we believe in action not words and would welcome the governance dialogue with the all bodies, national and provincial, on how to make this happen. nobody has all the answers but collectively we can find them.

caamp has embarked on a strategic dialogue; we hope these views and ideas will be part of that process and that the outcome will be a blueprint to build bridges and tear down fences. unification of the associations wont be simple or easy but we believe it is the change the industry membership both wants and needs for a progressive future.

FIND AMBA ON FAceBOOk, LINkeDIN, ANDTwITTer! Follow us @AMBA1975

Join us at our Prez Pubs

The pubs are a great networking opportunity and a chance for you to

share your industry thoughts. Watch amba.ca for dates and times.

PrESIDENtS MESSAgEron Mcclenaghan AMBA President

SPRING 20136

recently you would have seen a member advisory regarding the amba submission to real estate council of alberta regarding their proposed changes to the alberta real estate act. this is a sign